VIERA, Fla. — If John Lannan wants to make as strong a case as possible to open the season as the Nationals' No. 5 starter (in place of an injured Chien-Ming Wang), today would represent a golden opportunity. When the left-hander takes the mound shortly at Space Coast Stadium, he'll be facing a pretty good Braves lineup that features Michael Bourn, Brian McCann, Dan Uggla, Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward.

Lannan will have plenty of regulars behind him in the field, with Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth in the Nationals' lineup. No Michael Morse or Adam LaRoche yet, but manager Davey Johnson said both players should be ready to go again beginning Sunday.

It's a cloudy, windy day in Viera with a chance for rain, but this game will start on time. Bob and F.P. have the call on TV, and I'll have updates throughout live from the ballpark…

Giving Chad Tracy every chance to prove he can be that left-hander? He leads the team in RBI but his hitting has been pretty meh … he loses a Bernadina if he picks Tracy and Bernadina has speed and the flexibility to play every outfield position. Can't see that happening at this point.

Mark, Bourn is too old. They're already saddled with Werth's contract. Let it go Mark. Bourn isn't going to happen … its going to be someone young and preferable with a left-handed bat … THUS Harper, Brown, and perhaps Goodwin? Right? Mark do you see any scary left-handed bats in the Nats lineup that are under 30 and not in decline? NO, you don't now do you?Johnson wants Harper and Brown to succeed because they lack that left-handed hitting component … Brown is a superlative fielder in CF and is younger than Bourn. Harper is learning but could end up in a corner outfield position when all is said and done. And then there's FA BJ Upton who stats indicate he could be about to break out. Bourn ain't happenin' dude.

A few weeks ago, Davey Johnson said Morse could bat but couldn't throw because of his strained lat. Now he's saying Morse can't hit and he can't throw. My point is that the Nats brass is trying to sell tickets. Being forthright about the seriousness of these injuries is inconsistent with that objectve. Add to that, the incompetence of the training staff and you have legitmate reasons to be concerned about any Nationals player who is listed as "day to day".

A few weeks ago, Davey Johnson said Morse could bat but couldn't throw because of his strained lat. Now he's saying Morse can't hit and he can't throw.No, he's telling him DON'T hit and DON'T throw. Because in order to heal from a muscle strain (which is what this is, as confirmed by MRI) rest is the prescription. And the more rest, the better. Since this is spring training and the games don't count, the prudent course of action is to overdo the rest, which is what's happening. Davey wants Morse to be completely healed before he starts up again, so he won't injure himself again by trying to come back too soon. Again, the fact that there are still two weeks left before Opening Day means there's no reason to rush him back.

Someone said, "there's FA BJ Upton who stats indicate he could be about to break out."Whose stats have been declining for four years. It's like buying Bank of America stock; can't go nowhere but up. Whatta breakout that will be.

Feel is right here – the rest is prescribed by both trainers and medical staff and Davey is listening to them and being cautious. Also tells me they have confidence in our depth (unlike JayB) and are not in panic mode. Looks like the DeRosa signing is even more important now. Got to believe Morse is going crazy because it probably feels ok when he is just hanging around the team. Also believe that they are probably running the heck out of him because there is no strain on the lat with that. Run and Stretch with a little massage and electric stim mixed in. Its a rough life.

How can anybody possibly be a fan of Jayson Werth? He is just awful. This signing will continue to haunt this organization for the next 6 years. 4th place here we come…that is, if we can even beat out the Mets!!!

Does anyone know who the fat guy is in the Nats spring training bullpen? He always wears a warm-up jacket so you can't see the name on his uniform. He looks like a much larger John Lannan. I don't think he is a player or coach but he sat in the bullpen during every game last week.Who knows? Please help!

They're going to rule that a wild pitch because it bounced? Sucks for Hanson, that only got away because McCann was coming up to throw–nice job Zimm to draw that would-be throw, get their attention. (Carp and FP have been ambiguous on what the call actually was, might be a passed ball after all.) And now it costs him a go-ahead run, maybe the game for all we know now. Not that McCann hasn't bailed his staff out a few times.

Anonymous said… How can anybody possibly be a fan of Jayson Werth? He is just awful. This signing will continue to haunt this organization for the next 6 years. 4th place here we come…that is, if we can even beat out the Mets!!!wanna bet?

Interestingly, the 2 likeliest teams to fight for a wild card spot are the Nats and the Braves. These two teams are very close, and their regular season games should be intense.The Marlins are over-rated, and the Mets are bad.The Phillies are getting old and creaky pretty fast, but may have enough pitching to win the division.

I hate my boss. I have a meeting on 4/3 at 9 am. it's going to be questionable if I can get out in time to go to the BoSox game. Just imagine all the expletives that I have been thinking all afternoon long! Geesh don't people know that baseball season is starting!

I wonder how long Davey will hang with Desmond if his fielding remains suspect. If he was a .300 hitter that would be different; but if he hits his usual — with high k's — how long to make a change. And what would that change look like?

… and Espi's error in the 10th.(Note to all: I'm not picking on Espi. What I am complaining about is that certain players get all the criticism, and others never get any. And I hate seeing a 25 yr old kid who plays for the good guys, who's trying his best to make the team, after pitching in the playoffs last year, being called a "bum".).

Anonymous said… DC Wonk your right. The way Espi and Desi are playing the Mets may get 4th place this season.You think the Nats will finish fifth?I'll bet you that the Nats finish higher than fifth. Put your money where your mouth is.

Carpenter said that La Rosa was the only one left on the list, but that he'd likely gotten all his work in and gone home. (What a bum! :-))A DC Wonk said… Are there no players left? March 21, 2012 4:18 PM

Really, neganons, chill out.Batting Perry in the 9th is a good example of how Davey's a players' manager. He knows Perry long ago in ST lost whatever microscopic chance he had of making the 25 (after all, he was traded mostly for his option). Perry blew the save and then got the loss because of Espi's boot, and he'll likely be sent down within the week. So letting him bat is saying I'm not Joe Girardi, I don't want you to care about the outcome of these ST games — and Perry, as you're going to be sent down shortly and as a reliever, will never bat in a game that means anything, I want you to go our there and just have a little fun. (Though looking at strike three suggests Perry may not have gotten into the spirit of the thing.)The regulars and marginal players all notice these things. They're going to give more to the team and have more respect for Davey when it counts.

Anonymous said… I really don't think they have figured out they need to score runs I agree with you! Well, at least I agree with the first four words of what you wrote. Then you went off the deep end. It's ok, though, I'm just poking fun at you, because nobody around here who is an actual Nat fan takes what you wrote with even a drop of seriousness.Steady Eddie — you make a great point, and I can completely see it. While Davey may spin the media like a top — he's a big supporter of his own players, and he's straight with them.(I don't know how many are familiar with the anecdote of when Davey managed, I think it was the 2008 USA Baseball team, and he cracked up the players in the first meeting when he concluded with something like, "hell, let's not have any signs" (for steals, sacs, etc.). He wanted them to loosen up and have fun.)

Unkyd, I can't wait to laud you for the accurate prediction!But that makes me wonder: if someone DOES hit for the cycle in ST, or pitches a perfect game…does it count? I guess they'd yank the pitcher early, even if he was working on something beautiful. Anyway — what happens to stats like that? I know SOMEONE out there knows.

What Steady Eddie and DC Wonk said :-)Losing culture, Anon? Come on. That wasn't even the case last year when they were 80-81!The Team is upbeat about this year and I am too!No, the lineup wont exactly strike fear into opponents, but the pitching staff sure will.Go Nats!

JaneB said… "But that makes me wonder: if someone DOES hit for the cycle in ST, or pitches a perfect game…does it count? I guess they'd yank the pitcher early, even if he was working on something beautiful. Anyway — what happens to stats like that? I know SOMEONE out there knows."Other than floating somewhere in the ethersphere, those records are kept in the same place as the results of all the games you played as a kid.

The best example of Davey being a players' manager was the game last fall in Florida when it was raining and miserable and the Marlins' pitcher was retiring, and Davey basically "gave up" on the game so the guys could go home. I think it was the next to last game, and it meant the Nats were not going to have a record above .500 and fans were bleating. Riggs would have put in every relief pitcher and played 17 innings (like the year before). The players will not forget that, and they will play their hearts out for a manager like Davey.

MicheleS, I'm also a new STH (partial plan) (Note: I've been sharing someone else's plan since 2005, finally got my own). I had the same question, and called in. The Red Carpet Rewards cards are being sent out separately, and should be going out in the next couple of weeks. So don't panic. But keep track of your towel

Funny to read some folks who already have the Nats finishing fifth and calling on Davey to Score Runs.Great to see the Nats have a passionate fan base; albeit, similar to old Philly fans (say it aint so)But naysayers and handwringers: It's Spring Training — meaningless at his moment. While I'm not one of the crazies (like Davey) guaranteeing a playoff spot, you'd be wrong not think the Nats were much improved. Let's relax and enjoy this better than average team.

Unk, you might as well leverage whatever luck you have today. I'm sure Davey would tell you that. Well, as sure as I can be without having asked him, knowing him, or worked with him at any time, or do anything like what he does for a living. Otherwise, I know exactly what he's thinking.